WASHINGTON, D.C – July 15, 2010 – In his questioning of actor Ted Danson on international fisheries policy, Sen John Kerry raised the question of how the Oceana-backed position on subsidies would affect fishing communities. Mr. Danson was unable to answer the question.
Actor Ted Danson was reunited with an old friend on Wednesday when he testified before the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness: one-time "Cheers" guest star (and committee member) Sen. John Kerry.
In case your recall of 1992 is a little hazy: Kerry played himself on a 1992 episode of the Boston-set show, which famously starred Danson as bartender (and lovable lothario) Sam Malone. Kerry, who missed the beginning of the hearing on fishing subsidies, stopped in to pose some questions to the panel and give a nod to his on-screen pal.
"Ted and I are old friends," Sen. Kerry told the room, before questioning Danson about how removing fishing subsidies would impact communities that depend on the fishing industry.
"I'm not an expert in that area at all," Danson answered.
What Danson did appear to be more knowledgable about—likely from his 20 plus years working with the non-profit Oceana— was the flipside of Kerry's question. Namely, the impact that subsidies have on fish.
"Reducing subsides is a necessary action to reverse global overfishing," Danson said.
Read the complete story from Politico.